Earth on alert for powerful solar storm

This transcript is automatically generated

-- your Smartphone goes on afraid Saddam might already dead and I don't know if I can link it directly to this.

But if you can't surf the web today -- you have trouble sending an email it may be because of what's coming from the sun.

Right at us right now the earth is getting bombard it.

With a dose of radiation the likes of which we have not seen in more than six years it is called a massive solar flare.

Possibly it could disrupt satellite communications and Global Positioning Systems.

Former NASA astronaut and Fox News contributor time Jones joins me now how good morning I was panacea.

Morning Martha you know -- -- -- at rating given us that you sent us sat on this segment and when I got to the bottom I think this is the headline.

-- -- our military and critical satellite operators should prepare for an onset of major storm that could crash the Internet.

Destroy our satellites and bring down electrical grids crippling to the digital society you really believe that's possibility here.

Perhaps not in this particular storm this week Martha but over the next few years as we head towards the maximum of the solar cycle -- 2014.

We should be ready for a storm of that dimension and that's -- historically happened in the past.

And we should be ready for that again we should always assume that what our past experience of -- essence on is what we're gonna see in the future interest thanks so who is it is in danger.

With this particular storm and what would you watch out for.

Well this week the radiation ovals are termed strong and that means that in the polar regions were getting a lot more charged particles hitting the top of -- atmosphere.

-- airline passenger going on the polar route over to Asia.

You -- get increased levels of radiation the astronauts aboard the space station.

Are restricted from from from doing spacewalks during this time again because of the higher radiation deaths and you say you blown through the is that you would not want to be out on a spacewalk during one of days.

Right if you're inside the spacecraft like I was on the shuttle and we would flew right through the Aurora Borealis -- the roster -- in the Southern Hemisphere.

-- you're seeing the evidence of this increased radiation flocks.

But you're outside with only a -- -- -- -- fabric to protect you can get -- a dose of sufficient to stop you from going on another space -- that's a career risk.

Would you advise people not to take flights to Asia and the middle -- best.

What I read is that the airlines are either -- -- those flights or flying at a lower altitudes they get more air about you to protect you from that radiation.

I incredible time -- always enlightening thank you very much for being let us today.

Watch Live

Earth on alert for powerful solar storm

Details

Clips

Editor's Picks

Okla. Gov. Fallin: We're strong and we'll rebuild

House of Scandals: Where was Obama?

Tea Party group sues IRS for political profiling

State Dept. official says he was 'scapegoat' for Benghazi

Gutfeld: Media still cast Tea Party as villains, not victims

Sen. Paul: 'Someone has to be fired' over IRS scandal

Search, rescue efforts still underway at tornado-hit school

Survivor: Family will 'stay together and just rebuild'

Scandals affecting public opinion of Obama administration?

Oklahoma: How you can help rescue teams on the ground

First responders raise flag after devastating tornado

Moore, Oklahoma resident: 'God, protect me. Protect me'

Transcript

Recommended